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Driver perception of a series of on-road treadle sensors
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) surveillance efforts are directed towards identifying and studying high-risk industries. This research describes injuries and workers' characteristics and stYggests how these injuries may be prevented in one industry - the meatpacking industry. This industry has maintained the third highest injury rate among all US manufacturing industries from 1976 through 1985. According to NIOSH data, 25 workers died from work-related injuries during 1 9 8 0 - 1 9 8 5 . Injury data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Supplementary Data System show that 76% of injured workers Suffered strains, sprains, lacerations, contusions or abrasions. The two major types of injury are: struck by or against objects (25%) and over-exertion including lifting, pulling and throwing (31%). Handtools are involved in almost one half of all injuries. The occupations of over half of all injured workers are meat cutter (49%), butcher (2%) and packer and wrapper (4%). These findings suggest aiming preventive efforts towards workers in these jobs. However, more comprehensive and detailed surveillance systems are needed to further study workers at risk and evaluate preventive efforts.
21.3.44 (116366)
Soleo, L., et al. Evaluation of noise-induced hearing loss in a group of cement workers (La Valutazione del Danno da Rumore: Considerazioni su una Casistica di Esposti Addetti alia Produzione del Cemento). (In Italian.) Medicina del Lavoro, 1989, 8 0 . 3 , 2 2 9 - 2 4 3 , 39 refs. The study covered 1334 workers employed in 12 cement factories located in southern Italy. They were submitted to audiometric screening consisting of a questionnaire containing questions on past otologic complaints, dysmetabolic diseases, use of ototoxic drugs and past occupational or non-occupational exposure to noise, plus otoscopic examination and full audiometric examination. The results revealed a statistically significant relationship between duration of exposure to noise and elevation in the hearing threshold. The highest noise levels were found in the crude/baked mills department; however, the highest frequency of occupational hearing loss was observed in the mine and crushing installations, maintenance and hodmen departments. On the question of assessment of the audiometric tracings for preventive and insurance purposes, attention is drawn to the fact that there is a need for a method that will enable an evaluation for prevention to
9_~R
AnnliDrl F r n n n n m l r e
be transformed into an evaluation for insurance. This method should in any case allow for deduction of the portion of hearing loss regarding presbycusis and sociocusis and take due account of the 3 kHz frequency. The attention of industry and public administration is drawn to the urgent need for prevention programmes to protect against noiseinduced hearing loss in both occupational and non-occupational settings.
21.3.45 (116923)
stopping distance of trams and automobiles, the effects of alcohol and drugs on train crews and automobile drivers, the perceptual effects of various visual obstructions, the relative and cumulative effects of auditory and visual warning signals, automobile operation in a panic situation, the reliability of railroad equipment, and the accident-inducing effects of certain warning and barrier systems. -['his section on highway-railroad crossings is both instructive and thought provoking. It is apparent that there are many minor improvements that could save lives.
Green, R.A., and Briggs, C.A. Effect of overuse injury and the importance of training on the use of adjustable workstations by keyboard operators. J Occup Med, 1989, 31.6, 5 5 7 - 5 6 1 , 22 refs. The introduction of adjustable workstations for keyboard operators has been widely recommended to eradicate constrained working postures leading to the development of musculo-skeletal disorders. A questionnaire evaluating the use of adjustable workstations was analysed for 514 keyboard operators. Anthropometric dimensions and workstation settings were measured for 15 operators. There was no difference between sufferers and non-sufferers of overuse injury on the basis of adjustability of their equipment. However, sufferers were less satisfied with their equipment and there was evidence that inappropriate postures were being adopted. The availability of adjustable equipment per se does not necessarily solve the problem. The design of the equipment must be based on suitable anthropometric data and operators must be trained in the correct use of the equipment. The results of this study indicate a perceived need for training and/or information on workstation adjustment among operators, with a preference for information that is supplied verbally, rather than in literature form.
21.3.47 (116392)
Pitcher, I.K. Driver perception of a series of on-road treadle sensors. Australian Road R es, 1989, 19.2, 1 7 3 - 1 7 8 , 1 ref. In order to assess the visual impact of a series of treadle sensors on the behaviour of motorists driving along a residential street, a preliminary test was devised which sought to determine the impact of d u m m y detectors on maximum vehicle speeds.
21.3.48 (116394)
Hilla, W., Rohde, L., and Schmoger, G. The ergonomics of welding guns with fume extractors (Ergonomie Abgesaugter Schweisspistolen). (In German.) Zentralblatt fur Arbeitsmedizin, Arbeitsshutz, Prophylaxe und Ergonomie, 1989, 39.9, 2 4 6 - 2 5 0 , 5 refs.
The purpose of the investigation was to establish whether the additional installation of fume extractors on the welding guns as a supplementary ventilation measure is capable of achieving a sufficient reduction of health-risk substances without placing unacceptable loads on the hand/arm system. This evaluation involved a critical comparison between inhalant stress factors (welding fumes) and mechanical strain (higher manual holding forces). In view of the 21.3.46 (116389) specific information value of the various Mortimer, R.G. methods available, the investigation Human factors in highway-railroad concentrated mainly on a comparison grade crossing accidents. In: G.A. of stress factors. The factors used, in Peters and B.J. Peters (Eds), Autoaddition to data relating to the pulmotive Engineering and Litigation. monary function as subsidiary informVol 2. Garland Law Publishing, New ation, were mainly reported complaints York, 1988, pp 3 5 - 6 9 , 24 refs. affecting the grasping and supporting The highway-railroad grade crossing functions of the arm and wrist, which serves as a continuing ~ource of acciproved to be very helpful as a basis for dents and apparent conflict on technical evaluation in the context of stress data. issues. The issues relate to signal visibility As a result of the investigation, the and effectiveness, the time and distance conventional welding gun used prerelationships between moving locoviously was given preference over the motives and trucks, the comparative welding gun with fume extractor in its
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10017
21.3.44 (116366)
Soleo, L., et al. Evaluation of noise-induced hearing loss in a group of cement workers (La Valutazione del Danno da Rumore: Considerazioni su una Casistica di Esposti Addetti alia Produzione del Cemento). (In Italian.) Medicina del Lavoro, 1989, 8 0 . 3 , 2 2 9 - 2 4 3 , 39 refs. The study covered 1334 workers employed in 12 cement factories located in southern Italy. They were submitted to audiometric screening consisting of a questionnaire containing questions on past otologic complaints, dysmetabolic diseases, use of ototoxic drugs and past occupational or non-occupational exposure to noise, plus otoscopic examination and full audiometric examination. The results revealed a statistically significant relationship between duration of exposure to noise and elevation in the hearing threshold. The highest noise levels were found in the crude/baked mills department; however, the highest frequency of occupational hearing loss was observed in the mine and crushing installations, maintenance and hodmen departments. On the question of assessment of the audiometric tracings for preventive and insurance purposes, attention is drawn to the fact that there is a need for a method that will enable an evaluation for prevention to
9_~R
AnnliDrl F r n n n n m l r e
be transformed into an evaluation for insurance. This method should in any case allow for deduction of the portion of hearing loss regarding presbycusis and sociocusis and take due account of the 3 kHz frequency. The attention of industry and public administration is drawn to the urgent need for prevention programmes to protect against noiseinduced hearing loss in both occupational and non-occupational settings.
21.3.45 (116923)
stopping distance of trams and automobiles, the effects of alcohol and drugs on train crews and automobile drivers, the perceptual effects of various visual obstructions, the relative and cumulative effects of auditory and visual warning signals, automobile operation in a panic situation, the reliability of railroad equipment, and the accident-inducing effects of certain warning and barrier systems. -['his section on highway-railroad crossings is both instructive and thought provoking. It is apparent that there are many minor improvements that could save lives.
Green, R.A., and Briggs, C.A. Effect of overuse injury and the importance of training on the use of adjustable workstations by keyboard operators. J Occup Med, 1989, 31.6, 5 5 7 - 5 6 1 , 22 refs. The introduction of adjustable workstations for keyboard operators has been widely recommended to eradicate constrained working postures leading to the development of musculo-skeletal disorders. A questionnaire evaluating the use of adjustable workstations was analysed for 514 keyboard operators. Anthropometric dimensions and workstation settings were measured for 15 operators. There was no difference between sufferers and non-sufferers of overuse injury on the basis of adjustability of their equipment. However, sufferers were less satisfied with their equipment and there was evidence that inappropriate postures were being adopted. The availability of adjustable equipment per se does not necessarily solve the problem. The design of the equipment must be based on suitable anthropometric data and operators must be trained in the correct use of the equipment. The results of this study indicate a perceived need for training and/or information on workstation adjustment among operators, with a preference for information that is supplied verbally, rather than in literature form.
21.3.47 (116392)
Pitcher, I.K. Driver perception of a series of on-road treadle sensors. Australian Road R es, 1989, 19.2, 1 7 3 - 1 7 8 , 1 ref. In order to assess the visual impact of a series of treadle sensors on the behaviour of motorists driving along a residential street, a preliminary test was devised which sought to determine the impact of d u m m y detectors on maximum vehicle speeds.
21.3.48 (116394)
Hilla, W., Rohde, L., and Schmoger, G. The ergonomics of welding guns with fume extractors (Ergonomie Abgesaugter Schweisspistolen). (In German.) Zentralblatt fur Arbeitsmedizin, Arbeitsshutz, Prophylaxe und Ergonomie, 1989, 39.9, 2 4 6 - 2 5 0 , 5 refs.
The purpose of the investigation was to establish whether the additional installation of fume extractors on the welding guns as a supplementary ventilation measure is capable of achieving a sufficient reduction of health-risk substances without placing unacceptable loads on the hand/arm system. This evaluation involved a critical comparison between inhalant stress factors (welding fumes) and mechanical strain (higher manual holding forces). In view of the 21.3.46 (116389) specific information value of the various Mortimer, R.G. methods available, the investigation Human factors in highway-railroad concentrated mainly on a comparison grade crossing accidents. In: G.A. of stress factors. The factors used, in Peters and B.J. Peters (Eds), Autoaddition to data relating to the pulmotive Engineering and Litigation. monary function as subsidiary informVol 2. Garland Law Publishing, New ation, were mainly reported complaints York, 1988, pp 3 5 - 6 9 , 24 refs. affecting the grasping and supporting The highway-railroad grade crossing functions of the arm and wrist, which serves as a continuing ~ource of acciproved to be very helpful as a basis for dents and apparent conflict on technical evaluation in the context of stress data. issues. The issues relate to signal visibility As a result of the investigation, the and effectiveness, the time and distance conventional welding gun used prerelationships between moving locoviously was given preference over the motives and trucks, the comparative welding gun with fume extractor in its
~nn~mhae
10017